Governor Cuomo’s Veto Of Veteran Pension Buyback Legislation

New York State Assembly Minority Leader Brian M. Kolb (R,C-Canandaigua) today issued the following statement on Governor Cuomo’s veto of legislation (A.8174-A) that would expand a program allowing veterans to buy back service credit in the public employees retirement systems:“The Governor has ignored New York’s veterans by vetoing legislation that recognizes their service to our nation. The Legislature overwhelmingly passed legislation to reward the dedication of all veterans equally, as a measure of gratitude to those who have earned this very basic privilege through service and sacrifice,” Leader Kolb said. “It is unconscionable that the Governor supports ill-conceived policies like spending taxpayer dollars to provide free college tuition for inmates, but blocks attempts to assist the men and women who willfully volunteered to protect our country. This veto truly highlights the Governor’s misguided agenda.” If signed into law, the bill would have allowed veterans to buy back up to three years of service credit regardless of what era they served in the military. New York currently allows some veterans to buy back service credit, but not all. The bill, which passed in the Assembly 138-1 and the Senate 63-0, would remedy that inconsistency.